The Malleus Maleficarum, or "Hammer of Witches," is a treatise on witchcraft written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger. Published in 1486, it became a foundational text for witch hunts in early modern Europe. The book details the authors' beliefs about a global conspiracy of witches led by Satan, outlining methods for identifying and prosecuting them. It promoted the use of torture to extract confessions and advocated for the death penalty for those found guilty. The Malleus Maleficarum's influence contributed significantly to the widespread persecution of individuals accused of witchcraft. Its misogynistic views and promotion of violence continue to be studied and criticized.
In 'The Ascent of Money', Niall Ferguson explores the human story behind the evolution of finance, from the origins of money in ancient Mesopotamia to the latest financial upheavals. Ferguson argues that finance is the foundation of human progress and reveals financial history as the essential backstory behind all history. The book covers key financial institutions and concepts, such as the invention of banking, the development of bonds and stock markets, and the role of insurance and real estate. It also delves into the impact of financial systems on historical events and the recurring theme that every financial bubble eventually bursts[1][3][4].
In this book, Niall Ferguson argues that networks have always been a crucial part of human society, from ancient cults to modern social media platforms like Facebook. He uses social network analysis to demonstrate how these networks often hold more real power than the hierarchical institutions they challenge. The book explores historical examples, including the Reformation and the rise of revolutionary ideas, to illustrate the ongoing struggle between 'the Square' (networks) and 'the Tower' (hierarchies). Ferguson also applies network theory concepts to understand both the past and the present, offering insights into how networks can transform our understanding of history and current affairs.
Historian Niall Ferguson, the author of bestselling books such as The Ascent of Money and The Square and the Tower, talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about his new PBS series, Networld, which explores the history and science of networks. He discusses why it's important to understand networks, and how they can become the sources of revolutions; the economic implications of misinformation about coronavirus, which has been exacerbated by lax tech regulation; and why it's dangerous to invite Silicon Valley to track private individuals even more closely. "We actually are a form of China already," Ferguson says. "It’s just that the data are in the hands of Mark Zuckerberg and his counterparts at Google." Plus: How the US is doing the worst combination of things in response to coronavirus: "Half-assed social distancing" while still shutting down the economy.
Featuring:
Niall Ferguson (@nfergus), host, Networld, and author, The Square and the Tower
Host:
Kara Swisher (@karaswisher), Recode co-founder and editor-at-large
More to explore:
On Reset, Arielle Duhaime-Ross explores why — and how — tech is changing everything.
On Recode Media, Peter Kafka interviews business titans, journalists, comedians and podcasters about the collision of tech and media.
On Pivot, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway talk about the big tech news stories of the week, who's winning, who's failing, and what comes next.
And on Land of the Giants, Jason Del Rey chronicled the rise of Amazon. Season 2 will focus on Netflix and is coming soon!
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Decoder with Nilay Patel 
